Taiwan

Tens of thousands protest at China links

Article published on the 2008-08-30 Latest update 2008-08-30 14:05 TU

Protesters in Taipei
(Photo: Reuters)

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, on Saturday, accusing President Ma Ying-Jeou of being too friendly to mainland China. The rally, the first protest against Ma since his election in May, comes amid controversy over financial irregularities by former President Chen Shui-bian and his family.

Rally organisers accuse Ma and his Kuomintang government of sacrificing Taiwan's sovereignty. They say that economic integration could lead to political unification.

Since his election direct flights between the two sides have started, Chinese tourists have been encouraged to visit and controls on investments in the People's Republic have been relaxed.

Chen and his Democratic Progressive Party opposed such moves and tried to whip up support for a formal declaration of independence.

Chen and his family have faced a series of corruption charges, which have attracted ferevent media attention.

Kuomintang polticians say that today's protesters are trying to blame them for economic problems that started under Chen.

"Taiwan's economy was a mess when the country was ruled by DPP over the past eight years. They are supposed to be responsible for that, but now they blame the Kuomintang government only 100 days after we took the helm," Kuomintang chairman Wu Poh-hsiung told a separate gathering.